Ruth Lugar Rothrock

Ruth Lugar Rothrock

Cedar Rapids

Ruth Lugar Rothrock, 96, died on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in her home surrounded by her family. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 pm at Noelridge Christian Church. Ruth is survived by her two daughters, Diane Rothrock (Anna Ackley) and Lynne Rothrock, both of Cedar Rapids. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Darrell “Rocky” Rothrock, her parents, her son-in-law Ron DeWitte, her brother and other extended family members.

Ruth was born on October 16, 1929 in Stewardson, IL. She graduated from Stewardson High School and married her high school sweetheart, Darrell “Rocky” Rothrock on October 22, 1950. Rocky’s career as a professional baseball player brought them to Cedar Rapids and they decided to make it their home. Ruth was employed at Link Belt Speeder where she became part of a group of friends that maintained their connection for more than 60 years. After eleven years of marriage and years of hoping and praying, Ruth and Rocky were blessed with their first child, Diane Karla. Ruth felt this was truly a gift from God, and two years later they received the gift of a second daughter, Lynne Renee. They created a joyful and loving family.

Ruth and Rocky were charter members of Noelridge Christian Church and their faith in God and commitment to this church was the centerpiece of their lives. Ruth remained an active and joyful member until her death. She felt great pride in the church community and generously devoted herself to its service. She greatly valued the friendships that were built in her church family.

Ruth also worked in retail at Sears and the Nook and Cranny gift shop at Lindale Mall. She enjoyed interacting with people. She loved attending musicals and concerts and this was a strong influence on her daughter, Lynne. After her husband’s death, her daughter Diane moved in with her and they shared a lovely companionship for 30 years. The gift of Diane’s care enabled Ruth to stay in in her own home for the remainder of her life. She was a very creative person and enjoyed making greeting cards and painting craft projects. Ruth was a voracious reader and she enjoyed keeping lists of favorite books and authors. She especially loved to travel and enjoyed planning family trips when her children were small. Ruth also enjoyed vacations with her daughters as adults, including trips to Hawaii, Alaska, London and a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea.

Ruth devoted her life to serving others. She was kind, caring, generous, thoughtful and deeply accepting of all people. She was a genuinely selfless person who truly lived her faith. Ruth was a devoted wife, mother and friend to so many. In her later years, she loved watching Caitlin Clark and she loved attending her daughter Lynne’s concerts, being introduced and receiving a round of applause from the audience. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Her life was a gift and a blessing to all who knew her.